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Hi linen lovers! 🧵 There are some changes coming that involve the relocation of this group... As you might have seen in my recent emails and videos, on November 19th I will start offering a new year-long linen garment sewing program/challenge, and the Charlie Darwin community forum will move into it. This current community forum will be sunsetting at some point on or after November 19th, 2026. I would LOVE to see you in the new one! 🥰You can join the waitlist at the link above. It will be a paid experience that includes all my patterns, a workbook, design and fit guidance, and guided group sew-alongs/creative challenges. If you choose to join, I believe you will get much more out of it! If you're curious about the decision, here's why I'm doing it 🔽 1. The new community (and program) will be hosted on a different platform that has a much better…

Hi to all! I have a linen shirt that I got burger grease on. I treated it immediately with Tide stick and washed it but the grease didn't come out. Then I tried to wash it with a stain treater bar (I've already forgotten the name of) from Home depot. No luck in getting it out.

I have not put it in the dryer.

Any ideas?! Thanks in advance!

Hi, I’m so happy to be joining you all. I like the idea of making one high-quality garment a month, and this will be a good accountability group, while still keeping it fun! I love to sew and I make a lot of things and share on YouTube and Instagram and really having the desire lately to turn into more natural fibres. I i’ve bought many of the patterns and am looking forward to checking the rest out as I go along. I’ll include a couple of my Charlie Darwin makes. There is a great fabric store in Portland, Oregon, called Josephine’s dry goods that has very high quality linens. And the owner, Bini gives great advice.

A while ago Osei Duro company was giving away their fabric remnants, so I picked some up. I made 2 panels from squares and didn’t know how I would incorporate them in a project. Then I saw Leah’s patchwork shirt, and I thought it was a great idea!

I bought some simple white cotton, and chose to do a tank top, with cap sleeves and rounded neckline. This was my first time sewing a garment with buttonholes. For the lined bodice, I didn’t use the burrito method, I reached from the bottom and turn it inside out. It gave me less bulk to stitch, so it was only the cap sleeve on the inside.

Overall I loved the instructions and the videos! Of course I made some mistakes, but it was a complicated for me project, so I’m happy!

I already wore it to a festive event in my community,…

Hello! I’m Irina and I love linen 😂.

A few years ago I stumbled upon an article about 7 Lithuanian linen brands and since I’m half Lithuanian, it sparked my curiosity about natural fabrics. I purchased a few linen items and really fell in love with this fabric.

Then at an estate sale I found a sewing machine and since I was looking for a hobby, I thought why not sewing? Sewing felt very natural to me, because my mom is a professional seamstress, so I grew up seeing her work, browsing fashion magazines, and making clothes for Barbie dolls from scraps. I already had some sewing chops from school, so after taking a refresher course, I felt like a solid beginner/intermediate.

I still take technique classes here and there and hope to gain more experience.

I found Leah on YouTube and her content hit all the boxes in terms…

I have everything I need. I think I need a firecracker lit under me.

What do you do when you keep procrastinating?

Working out the situation to get started. What is the hold up? You want to do it, you have the means, so why am I talking instead of taking action?

How do I get out of my own way?

Please give me some ideas, suggestions, and other motivators to get going? I use time as the excuse part of the time. I dream and dream and dream...

Help!

Hi,

I have sensitive skin. While linen is natural, some forms of it feel scratchy. Not to fear, they can be softened and they are at some point.

My mom used linens. I like great linens.

I haven't always had this sensitivity. It crept up on me like and with age.

I am in love with this whole new school and age of natural fibers. It is great.

To cite an experience:

I purchased the ladybird sewing pattern (pattern pro version) and I am loving the pattern and the process. I’m wondering if anyone knows how to access the video tutorial that comes with the pattern pro version? Thanks for any advice!

I haven’t done much dressmaking for years and years. I did fibreart, machine embroidery sort of thing for a long time, then I moved on to painting abstracts and landscapes. I really want to start to make my own clothes, especially in linen and maybe other natural fibres.

I’m 77 years young, so excited but taking it steady haha! 😛

Really lovely to be here

Lynne